Trunk Bay in St. John

Trunk Bay in St. John, photo by Willie Waw.

Beautiful Trunk Bay Beach on St. John, USVI. It's a wonderful swimming and snorkeling beach.

The Big Dog off Tortola

The Big Dog off Tortola, photo by Willie Waw.

I caught a shot of this big, comfortable cruising cat (named The Big Dog) from Villa Jacaranda on Tortola. This catamaran is big enough to have three groups of people in separate seating areas while underway.

December Sunrise on the Bay

December Sunrise on the Bay, photo by Willie Waw.

Another unusual sunrise over Jamestown in Narragansett Bay -- it has been a very warm December in the northeast.

Long Bay Beach

Long Bay Bch, photo by Willie Waw.

Long Bay Beach in Tortola as seen with a telephoto lens from Sunset House -- St. Thomas is in the background.

Wickford Frostbite Fleet

Wickford Frostbite Fleet, photo by Willie Waw.

Sixteen small Sea Dogs were out racing on this warm December afternoon. The races, usually sailed inside Wickford Harbor, are hosted by the WIckford Yacht Club. Since it was mild and the winds were moderate today, the fleet ventured outside the harbor to turn around the bell buoy (which is larger than the boats).

Mahoe Sunset

Mahoe Sunset, photo by Willie Waw.

This sunset shot was taken in front of the Mahoe Bay villas on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands -- Tortola is in the background. This is a perfect beach for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.

Heather II fom Toronto

Heather II fom Toronto, photo by Willie Waw.

While on Speedy's ferry from Tortola to Virgin Gorda, we passed Heather II, a well-equipped cruising boat from Toronto.

View from Infinity

View from Infinity, photo by Willie Waw.

Here's the view from an amazing villa on St. Thomas with a view over Charlotte Amalie harbor. The villa is MA INF - Infinity -- it's a special place...

View from St. Thomas

View from St. Thomas, photo by Willie Waw.

Just back from a 10-day tour of the Virgin Islands where we visited 70 villas and hotels on St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda -- there are so many beautiful villas and most have stunning views.

This photo shows the view from villa MA IND -- Indochine -- on St. Thomas. Link here to learn more about villas in the Caribbean and Europe.

Catfish in the Bay?

Catfish in the Bay?, photo by Willie Waw.

This is the first fishing catboat I've seen -- two sailors out on a crisp fall day cooking along under sail with fishing poles out.

They might be more fishermen than sailors since there is a huge outboard motor hanging from the transom in case they slow down below trolling speed while sailing.

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Note: I'll be going flyabout on business for almost two weeks, so the blog is officially on holiday until November 12th. I'll be visiting 60 rental villas and hotels in the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda). Link here to find out why.... I should have a few nice shots when I return.

Endeavour in Newport

Endeavour in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

Built in 1934, J-Class Endeavour was recently sold by former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski to pay off part of his court-ordered restitution and fines for looting the company.

Link here to learn more about the $13.1 million sale and here for more about the history of the Endeavour.

Red Sky Sunrise

Red Sky Sunrise, photo by Willie Waw.

Another interesting Rhode Island sunrise and sailors' warning -- the rain was heavy a few hours later.

Note how sunlight plays on the strato-cumulus layer in the top half of the photo.

Gaff Ketch Pelagic in WIckford

Gaff Ketch Pelagic in WIckford, photo by Willie Waw.

"Pelagic", a bright yellow Robert W. Davis gaff ketch, was sailed from England and restored by Stephen Millett, owner of Wood & Water, a wooden boat construction and restoration shop in Wickford.

Link here to see more photos of Pelagic and to learn more about Wood & Water of Wickford, Rhode Island.

Schooner Madeleine and Castle Hill Light

Schooner Madeleine and Castle Hill Light, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner Madeleine from Newport heads out into Block Island Sound late on a fall afternoon.

Schooners Aurora and Adirondack also operate from Newport and carry passengers on daysail trips.

Lightship Nantucket in Newport

Lightship Nantucket in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

The recently-restored lightship 'Nantucket' visited Newport for a few weeks in late summer and fall.

From 1975 - 1983, she was stationed 45 miles southeast of Nantucket Island to keep transatlantic shipping from foundering on the dangerous Nantucket South Shoals. Prior to that she was on the West Coast off San Francisco and Cape Mendocino and later back on the East Coast off Portland, Maine.

Visit her website here for more information.

Yacht Brandaris

Yacht Brandaris, photo by Willie Waw.

Brandaris was launched in 1938 as the private yacht of shipyard owner and designer Willem De Vries Lentsch, Jr. She made history during World War II when she escaped German occupation, and then returned from England to participate in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of British and Allied forces from Dunkirk in May/June, 1940.

Her keel-less design (note leeboards) with 3 foot draft, immense strength and very broad beam proved invaluable as she packed the troops to the gunwales in their escape from attacking Axis forces.

She is now available for day charters from Wickford, Rhode Island.

For more info on the Brandaris, link here.

Beetle Cat at the Dock

Beetle Cat at the Dock, photo by Willie Waw.

A recently-restored Beetle Cat is ready to sail at IYRS in Newport. More than 2000 have been built in Massachusetts during the past 85 years and many older cats have been restored in Newport.

Link here to learn more about the long history of the Beetle Cat and to find out where new ones are being built now.

Market Cornered for Used Beetle Cats

Market Cornered for Used Beetle Cats, photo by Willie Waw.

The International Yacht Restoration School in Newport has been buying up Beetle Cats in need of restoration to use in training students. At least 15 cats are lined up on the racks behing their main building off Thames Street.

Link here to learn more about Beetle Cats at IYRS.

Madeleine in Newport

Madeleine in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner Madeleine gets underway for a daysail in crisp weather in Newport.

Link here for more on the Madeleine.

Sea Smoke on the Bay

Sea Smoke on the Bay, photo by Willie Waw.

Morning temperatures in the 40s (F) and warm water temperatures result in an eery-looking low fog on Narragansett Bay in late September.

Sunfish Finish

Sunfish Finish, photo by Willie Waw.

The two leaders make for the finish line in a late summer race in Narragansett Bay; you can tell they're racing because they have white racing sails. Most Sunfish sailors with white racing sails hardly ever go out unless they are racing.

I don't know why that single little fluffy cloud is above the fleet -- looks like someone painted it onto the print with Whiteout...

Narragansett Bay Yawl

Narragansett Bay Yawl, photo by Willie Waw.

A fair breeze drives a handsome yawl into Wickford Harbor -- looks like he may be single-handing.

Schooner Coronet at IYRS

Schooner Coronet, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner Yacht Coronet -- built in 1885 for industrialist Rufus T. Bush -- is being restored at the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) in Newport.

Link here to see a beautiful painting by John Mecray of Coronet blasting along in a good breeze. And visit the IYRS site here to learn more about the restoration and all of the great work they do.

Coronet has been called the oldest, largest and most original grand yacht in the world. Arthur Curtiss James owned the yacht in the 1890s; he sailed it twice around Cape Horn.

September Sunrise

September Sunrise, photo by Willie Waw.

Late summer morning on Narragansett Bay -- wouldn't it look nicer without the new dock?

Newport Boat Show Opens Tomorrow

Boat Show Preview, photo by Willie Waw.

Many boats are being readied for the boat show this weekend in Newport -- opens tomorrow and runs through September 17th.

I've already picked out the one I want -- a Bruckmann 42-foot Daysailer -- isn't she handsome?

To learn more about this boat and others by Zurn Yacht Design, link here.

Newport Moorings

Newport Moorings, photo by Willie Waw.

The aqua Nonsuch catboat and the Hinckley yawl have prime mooring locations in front of the 'cottage' known as Beacon Rock in Newport's Brenton Cove.

Neighbor Out in a Good Breeze

Neighbor Out in a Good Breeze, photo by Willie Waw.

You can see that conditions are rough and breezy -- most of the other boats at anchor are pitching and rolling. But my neighbor is having a nice Narragansett Bay ride.

You know you've been meaning to try windsurfing -- go ahead; do it! If you have never tried it, take a lesson -- you'll learn faster....

Cuauhtemoc in Miami

Cuauhtemoc in Miami, photo by Willie Waw.

The majestic Barque Cuauhtemoc of the Navy of Mexico is shown here docked at the Port of Miami just before the start of the Tall Ships Challenge Series in 2004.

In 2007, the series will have stops in Charleston, Norfolk, Newport and Halifax. Ships wil be coming from as far away as India, Brazil and Germany.

Visit the American Sail Training Association ASTA web site for details.

Charleston Ships

Charleston Ships, photo by Willie Waw.

Tall ships fans view and go aboard the visiting vessels in Charleston, South Carolina during the Tall Ships Challenge Series in 2004.

Vessels pictured (from right to left) are the Tenacious from the UK, Cuauhtemoc from Mexico, Mircea from Romania and Cisne Branco from Brazil.

Grand Nellie in Camden, NJ

Grand Nellie in Camden, NJ, photo by Willie Waw.

65-foot Schooner Grand Nellie from Duluth, MN and Oriental, NC crosses ahead of the 887-foot Battleship New Jersey in Camden.

Grand Nellie's visit to Camden was during the Tall Ships Challenge Series visit to Camden and Philadelphia in 2004.

Link here for more info on the Grand Nellie and here for the Battleship New Jersey web site.

The 2007 Tall Ships Challenge Series will be back on the Atlantic Coast of North America with stops in Charleston, Norfolk, Newport and Halifax.

Sunfish Panorama

Sunfish Panorama, photo by Willie Waw.

The Dutch Island Rounding is usually the final race in the annual Sunfish Super Sunday regatta at Saunderstown Yacht Club in Narragansett Bay.

Downwind starts keep the fleet together for half the race.

Appledore III

Appledore III, photo by Willie Waw.

Appledore III operates from Rockport, Massachusetts and takes visitors out for daysail trips.

She recently returned from her third 'round-the-world voyage.

She will probably race in the Gloucester and Provincetown schooner races this fall.

Six Appledore schooners have been built by Herb and Doris Smith -- Appledore II is in Maine and Appledores four and five are in Bay City, Michigan. Not sure where the others are.

For info on Appledore IV and V, and a short history of the Appledore schooners, link here.

For info on Appledore III, link here.

Spinnakers Astern

Spinnakers Behind, photo by Willie Waw.

The Ensign fleet starts at the same time we do in the cruising (non-spinnaker) division of the Wickford Wednesday evening series.

It pays to get clear of them downwind so we aren't blanketed by their spinnakers.

There Goes Our Fleet

There Goes Our Fleet, photo by Willie Waw.

We were well below the line when the gun went off for our start -- but managed to make a strong comeback to place second that evening in the cruising division in the Wickford Yacht Club Wednesday series.

I was sailing aboard the wooden 8-meter sloop King Haakon, named for a king of Norway. The sloop was built in Norway in the '50s.

Jacksonville Square Dance

Jacksonville Square Dance, photo by Willie Waw.

Four tall ships jockey for position for the best shot in a mock gunbattle in Jacksonville in 2004.

From left to right, Schooners Freedom, Pride of Baltimore II, Voyager and Brigantine Meka II participated in Tall Ships Challenge 2004 organized by the American Sail Training Association.

Messing About in Small Sailboats

Fun on Small Sailboats, photo by Willie Waw.

Daughter Chelsea and her boyfriend Tom out for a spin on the simple, stable beginner's boat, the Escape Solsa.

I could hear them hooting and laughing from shore -- fun is what sailing is all about!

A J Meerwald in New London

A J Meerwald in New London, photo by Willie Waw.

Schooner A J Meerwald from Bivalve, New Jersey alongside at New London's State Pier for the 2004 Tall Ships Challenge Series.

In the background from left to right are naval sail training ships Cisne Branco, Mircea and Cuauhtemoc from Brazil, Romania and Mexico respectively.

The 2006 Tall Ships Challenge fleet is currently in Chicago and will be open to the public through August 9 at Navy Pier, DuSable Harbor and on the Chicago River. Next year's tour will be on the Atlantic Coast of North America and will include stops in Charleston, Norfolk, Newport and Halifax.

Hyannis Mark Rounding

Hyannis Mark Rounding, photo by Willie Waw.

104 Club 420s competed in the Hyannis (Massachusetts) Regatta last weekend -- it was a windy weekend for the junior sailors, except during the last race which had to be abandoned when the wind died.

Saunderstown Classics

Saunderstown Classics, photo by Willie Waw.

The classic division at Saunderstown Yacht Club's weekly races includes Herreshoff 12-and-a-halfs, catboats, Javelins and Bullseyes.

Saunderstown Yacht Club is on Narragansett Bay's West Passage.

Juan Sebastian de Elcano

Elcano in Cadiz, photo by Willie Waw.

Spain's naval sail training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano is shown soon after the start of the Tall Ships 2000 race from her home port of Cadiz to Bermuda.

Juan Sebastián de Elcano (1460-1526) was the first to circumnavigate the globe and Spain's best-known naval hero

Link here for more photos of the Elcano.

Evening Light

Evening Light, photo by Willie Waw.

Wickford Harbor in warm, summer evening light...

The lighthouse belongs to the home on the point and is no longer used for navigation.

Wickford Catboats

Wickford Catboats, photo by Willie Waw.

Serene evening racing on Narragansett Bay -- the Wickford Catboat Association holds races for Marshall 18 and 21 catboats each Tuesday in the summer.

Concordia 41 Yawl Suva in Padanaram

Concordia 41 Yawl Suva in Padanaram, photo by Willie Waw.

Suva and two slightly smaller Concordia 40 yawls grace Padanaram Harbor, Massachusetts, home of the famous Concordia Company. Most of the 103 yawls were built for Concordia by Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany between 1938 and 1966 and were delivered to Boston by ship.

To learn more about the history of these beautiful craft, link here.

New Bedford Junior Regatta

New Bedford Regatta, photo by Willie Waw.

Son Lyle and crew Katie power downwind in the New Bedford Junior Regatta -- they did well with a 7th out of about sixty-five 420s in the regatta.

Additional regattas in Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York will keep them very busy this summer -- that's the way we like it!

Brigantine Fritha out of Newport

Brigantine Fritha out of Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

The beautiful Fritha, built in New Zealand, is gearing up for charter work from Newport, Rhode Island. She will also be used as a sail training vessel for the American Sail Training Association and Northeast Maritime Institute.

Link here for a beautiful photo of the Fritha under sail.

Schooner Brilliant from Mystic Seaport

Schooner Brilliant from Mystic Seaport, photo by Willie Waw.

61-foot Brilliant was built in 1932 at the Henry B. Nevins shipyard in City Island, New York. Designed by Sparkman and Stephens, she was raced for many years and served with the Coast Guard during World War II.

Brilliant is shown here at anchor in Newport with a teen group aboard -- some of them can be seen swimming alongside. Brilliant has hosted more than 9,000 adult and youth sail trainees during her illustrious sailing career.

In 1933, Brilliant sailed from Nantucket Lightship to Bishop's Rock in the Scilly Islands (48nm WSW of the Lizard) in 15 days, one hour and 23 minutes. In 2000, under current Captain George Moffett, Brilliant won the race from Halifax to Amsterdam during Tall Ships 2000.

For more details on the Brilliant, her history and programs, link here.

New Record for Orange II

The maxi catamaran Orange II team established a new transatlantic sailing record finishing this evening in a time of 4 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds (from New York's Ambrose Tower to the Lizard, the southwestern point of England). Their average speed was 28.02 knots and they shaved more than 9 hours off the old record held by Steve Fossett and crew on Playstation.

They would have finished earlier had their rudder not been damaged when it hit ice or debris -- speed had to be held under 30 knots for the latter part of the crossing. Congratulations to Bruno Peyron and his eleven speed-demon crew.

See post below for links.

Orange II Seeks Transtlantic Record

Orange II Seeks Transtlantic Record, photo by Willie Waw.

Bruno Peyron and his all French team aboard G-Class catamaran Orange II left New York City today just after 7:00 am local time in an attempt to beat the record held by Steve Fossett's Playstation since October 2001. The record stands at 4 days, 17 hours and 28 minutes to the southwest tip of England.

They are currently speeding along at about 30 knots and will have to average about 26 to set a new transatlantic record. In August 2004, Orange II missed setting a new record by just 31 minutes. If they break the receord, they will have to arrive at the southwest point of England (The Lizard) by 2:28 am on Friday morning, July 7th, New York time.

To follow the progress of Orange II, link here or to learn more about the vessel and the team, link here.

12-Meter Heritage in Newport

12 Meter Heritage in Newport, photo by Willie Waw.

Heritage, recognizable by her bright topsides, was built by Charley Morgan for the 1970 America's Cup. Since she wasn't selected to defend the cup, she was later converted into an ocean racer.

During the 70s and 80s, she won many races on the East Coast and in the Great Lakes, including two Chicago to Mackinac races.

Link here to learn more about sailing aboard Heritage and other vessels in Newport.

Continental Sloop Providence

Continental Sloop Providence, photo by Willie Waw.

The Sloop Providence crew make final preparations for their departure for Cleveland via New York City, Albany, and Oswego.

They will spend most of the summer with youth aboard touring the Great Lakes in the American Sail Training Association's Tall Ships Challenge Series with visits to Cleveland, Bay City, Green Bay and Chicago.

The mast has been removed for the trip through the New York Barge Canal and will be re-stepped in Oswego on Lake Ontario.

During her short but distinguished naval career during the Revolution, the original sloop sank or captured 40 British ships.

For more info, visit the Sloop Providence website.

Castle Hill Light

Castle Hill Light, photo by Willie Waw.

Castle Hill Lighthouse at the entrance of the East Passage into Narragansett Bay was built in 1890. Castle Hill Inn shows in the background of this shot taken from the brigantine Fritha.

To learn the history of the lighthouse, link here.

Brigantine Fritha will operate out of Newport and will soon be available for charter.